The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-24
VII.

The days passed quickly. June
was drawing to a close, and with il
the London season. Jean Hanbury
continued to be uneasy. Percy spent
much OF his time in the Princess 8
nat. lie drove with her, too, some
times, and once or twice he had gone
with her to the tbeater. or herself,
she, spoke little; Of himself, she
made him tell her much.
Jean in her distress had summoned
her, married sister, Ethel, and to-
geiher they discussed the whole af-
fair.
What can one do2" asked Miss
Hanbury. How l wish he had not
come. home 81 soon, or that the
Smiths had not let their fat What
chance can We haveP She is so terri
bly, beautiful"
Upon my word, JEAN" s id his
sister, y! think we must just let
things take their course. II nothing
happens well and good; and if Percy
chooses to marry her we cannot say
a word; and really | scarcely think
1t would matter so much if he did.
She is quite lovely, you know, aud
good style, and all that; and nova
days people are so little particular
that 1t one could find out whether
she has little money -"
Ethel, how can your" cried Jean
You have grown horribly worldly
since you married Jack Legion. Are
beauty and money the on y things a
man wants in wiie2"
well, suppose she is a Chris
tian," said Mrs. Legion, compla-
Gently.
II don't know what she is" said
Miss Hamburg; "she talks about
inner light, and the higher liie,'
and currents, and the astral aud
all sorts Of things that interest Percy,
because you know all that occult rub
bish always had a fascination for
him"
ut is-what shall say ?-ehic to
know about these things" said Mrs.
Legion; and she is very ladylike
aud too lovely-though can't help
thinking she must use belladonna to
make her pupils big, and | am GER
tain she whitens her face in some
way. But, after all, leaking up a
little is quite tolerated now, and il
she does, she does it so we'll that |
dom think it matters at all. Really,
Jean, | see no such terrible objection
to her"
you are not with me-" said Miss
Hamburg, $50 you are against me. |
thought better Of you. What do we
know Of the Princess2 She may be
anything, for aught we know-auy-
thing--l tell you-anythingl And
Percy is infatuated. | got you to
come here to help me, Ethel, and
you join the enemy. You might Just
as well be back at Windsor with your
husband and your babies"
Just as well, you ungrateful grill"
said Mrs. Legion, laughing. II leave
my darling little son, only Just con.
yalescent after German measles, then
| am told l might just as we'll not
have come. There, johnny, cheer
up. | don't believe Percy is SO hard
hit as you think. He is only anus
ing himself"
II hope Sc" said Jean.
Down stairs Percy was sitting in
the pretty drswingroom he was be-
ginning so we'll TO know. The Prin-
cess lay back in lew, red chair.
She wore loose robe Of dead white,
aud her brown hair streamed down
over her shoulders. She held one OF
the long stemmed lilies, and she
looked like medieval saint.
My head has been aching" she
said 10 him, and my hair is heavy"
ut must be heavy" ne said look
ing admiripgly at its generous silky
length. You should be painted sc"
he added.
"Why2" she asked slowly.
"Because-forgiye me-you look
so pure and holy"
The Princess shuddered. A curl
Gus look Of pain came into her face
and the muscles at her mouth con-
tracted. Her lips parted, and for a
moment, as she lay back 10 her cush-
ions, she closed her eyes.
Pure" she echoed, and holy. |
would that werel'
She was silent fora few seconds,
then she said:
The face is no key TO the soul.
Judas lscariot may have had the
face Of the Angel Gabriel. and JeEe.
bel aud the Empress Poppea, my
namesake, may have been innocent to
lock at. F"
Percy looked up 10 surprise. He
saw hat her face had grown hard.
Tie supposed that she must have met
with some injury iron some one who
was beautiful to cal forth that bitter
speech.
The Prineess's mood changed, and
she laughed lightly.
DO not be afraid, Mr.. Llanbury,"
she said, 81 am not one or other.n
There was again silence for a few
moments. For some unknown rea.
son there flashed now upon Percy's
brain the recollection Of an incom-
plete and hah.iorgotten impression
one momentArily caused by the sharp
turn he had seen the Princess wake
when the iussy man with the parcels
had given way TO his impotence on
the gangway-thst sharp turn which,
but Tor the sweet voice which had
presently spoken, would have been
suggestive Of furious retort.
He gave q movement Of annoy.
ance. The Princess had never gwen
the least justification 10 that half
iorme a suspicion. lie thought that
he had put IL from him, aud he was
angry that the remembrance OF IL
should have come 20 him.
The Princess was looking at him
curiously.
you think | should be painted